Southern Kentucky Book Festival Part II

So it's been a week since I attended and participated in the Southern Kentucky Book Festival, and the glamour is slowly fading as I get back into the swing of scooping cat boxes, cleaning bathrooms, and washing dishes. But the one thing that doesn't fade are the new friendships and great books I discover each year.

One of the first authors I met, Bridgid Kemmerer, happened to be riding the hotel elevator at the same time as me. Bridgid is a YA author with a new book out called More Than We Can Tell which is the tale of two people with past secrets that threaten to crush them. I don't usually read YA because of time constraints, but if I did, I would definitely add this book to my list of to reads.

The next new friend I made happened to be Robin Newman whom I knew from FB but not in person. When I arrived in the lobby hotel, she stood chatting with my friends Debbie Dadey and Tracey Barret. Robin is the author of a series about a pair of mice detectives that solve food mysteries. As you all know, I love mysteries, I love food, and I love food preparation, so it stands to reason that I would love an author who incorporates food into her books.

Detective Robin and me

My table mate, Peggy Goodman, happened to be a Bowling Green resident who wrote a book about a lady with a pie truck called Peg The Pie Lady. There were my panel mates, Holly Niner children's author, Joe Wos cartoonist and maze creator, Crystal Day  Nahsville Country singer and children's author, and Amy Parker Christian children's author.

Me and Peggy Goodman 

Panel Session with Crystal Day, Amy Parker, Me, Holly Niner,
 Robin Newman, and Joeseph Wos

Me and Joe

Cat Jordan, Holly Niner, Robin Newman

I also met YA authors Jacob Devlin, Sharon Cameron, and Cat Jordan. Cat flew in all the way from California and I'm so very glad she did. On the last day of the book fest we had a good chat about all things literary and how fellow authors and illustrators for the most part are extremely nice and quite supportive of each other. There were many others as well, so be sure to browse the Southern Kentucky Book Festival Author Line Up Page and check them all out!

Jacob Devlin, Me, and Sharon Cameron

Me and Cat Jordan

Well, that about wraps it up for this week. Join me next week, same crazy time, same crazy channel. Also be sure to drop by Literacy Musings Mondays for more great blogs as well as my personal website Fun With Aileen where you will find more on reading, writing, and my very own chapter and picture books. And finally, you can find me on twitter if you want an extremely brief glimpse into my days.

SOKYBF 2016

Sorry this post is a little later then normal, but we didn't get home from Kentucky until late. Kentucky, our home away from home. The place where I attend the Southern Kentucky Book Festival while my family visits relatives and rides horses.

 

And if you've never been to a book festival or fair, I recommend them heartily. I recommend them because they are an extraordinary place to find great books by authors and illustrators you know and love as well as authors and illustrators you don't yet know but might come to love. It's a place to make great new friends and visit long time friends. It's a place of wonder and a place I love to be a part of!

Debbie Dadey, Ginny Smith, and Me

This year I reunited with some of my besties like Lori Moore, Debbie Dadey, and Mark Wayne Adams, Emily's favorite illustrator.

Me, George, and Lori Moore

Debbie Dadey and Me

Mark Wayne Adams and Emily

I once again had the privilege of sitting next to Gail Nall, and enjoyed catching up with Jessica E. Young, Alison Lyne, Susan Eaddy, Matt Payne, Bruce Kessler, Kristin Tubb, and Mike Norris.

Gail Nall, Debbie Dadey, and Me

Me and Kristin Tubb

Jessica E. Young and New Friend Kay Whitehouse

In addition, I met some fabulous new friends like Gary Cieradkowski, Amanda Driscol, Kay Whitehouse, Margo Smith, Sara Celi, and I finally got to meet FB friend Julie Danielson. Despite reveling in children's books, I also have friends in other genres, friends like Ginny Smith, Carey Corp, Lori Langdon, and new friend Ray Peden, whom I was equally excited to see.

Susan Eaddy, Linda Hawkins, Julie Danielson, and Gary Cieradkowski

Margo Smith

So if you weren't as blessed as I was and weren't able to attend the Southern Kentucky Book Festival, be sure to check out these great books online at Barnes and Noble or Amazon!

 

Well, that about wraps it up for this week. Join me next week for another exciting episode, same crazy time, same crazy channel. Also be sure to drop by and join the Literacy Musings Monday Blog Hop where you will find other great blogs, or my personal website, Fun With Aileen, where you will find more on reading, writing, and my very own early grade Fern Valley chapter book series and my Quack and Daisy picture book series. And finally, you can find me on twitter @AileenWStewart if you want an extremely brief glimpse into my days. 

  

The Southern Kentucky Book Festival And Some Really Great Books!

Spring is proving to be a busy season for me, and every weekend is pretty much booked until May second. On the eleventh I went to my local library for the Drop Everything And Read event. This past weekend I went to the Southern Kentucky Book Festival. Next weekend I will be participating in Ohioana. And the weekend after that, I will be at the Hudson Children's Book Festival in Hudson New York.



 

Marvin Memorial Library Event
 

Since I am so busy, I don't really have time to read and review books like I normally do, so I thought I would share some great books from the events I attend. I made a new friend in tablemate Gail Nall this past weekend. Her debut book is called, Breaking The Ice. It is a book about a girl who wants to be an Olympic Skater. The cover alone is enough to catch my interest, and the back matter makes it sound perfect for girls eight to twelve.

 

Gail Nall and I at SOKY

 

And of course there was Finley Flowers Original Recipe by my friend Jessica Young. And since you all know I love to cook, how could I not recommend this book about a girl entering a cooking contest?

 

Flanked by Kristin Tubb, Jessica Young, and Gail Nall

 

And last but not least, a book illustrated by my friend Susan Eaddy called My Love For You Is The Sun. Her work with sculpting clay is so amazing that you just have to purchase this book and see for yourselves.

 

Susan Eaddy and I 

 

 Well, that about wraps it up for this week. Join me next week for another exciting episode, same crazy time, same crazy channel. And feel free to drop by my personal website, Fun With Aileen, any day of the week for even more on reading, writing, my very own early grade chapter book, Fern Valley, the sequel, Return To Fern Valley, and the soon to be released Cooking In Fern Valley (fall 2015)! I'm also on twitter @AileenWStewart if you want an extremely brief glimpse into my days.